Boards and drywall replace gingerbread and icing at inn

The lobby of the Inn at DePauw is no stranger to construction at this time of year, but this year the construction is much less edible than in years past.

The tradition revived three years ago of building an oversized gingerbread house in the Greencastle hotel has been put on hold this year as the lobby undergoes a total remodel.

Inn at DePauw general manager Michele Faison said the new look will give the lobby an updated environment.

Changes will include removing the angled entrance to the hotel restaurant 2 West, and moving the main desk to directly in front of the north entrance of the hotel.

Most of the floor will be hardwood, with a carpeted lounge area in the location of the old front desk and a carpeted business center with computers around the fireplace.

The remodel will also come with a new color scheme for the lobby.

Work is already under way, as was evident early this week when 2 West customers were asked to use the restaurant's northeast door near the hotel patio.

Faison said the hotel staff is requesting patience through the changes, which should be done by early February.

"We have a very professional crew doing this and they mainly do hotels," Faison said. "It should go smoothly."

At this point, the most noticeable change has been the lack of a gingerbread house.

"It's a huge success, especially last year because it was such an exceptional gingerbread house," Faison said.

In trying to maintain the holiday spirit, the Inn at DePauw will be hosting a Cookies and Canvas event on Monday, Dec. 9 from 6-8 p.m.

The vent is open to children ages 4 and above at a cost of $20 per child. The children will have a chance to paint a picture and enjoy cookies from the kitchen of the Inn at DePauw.

Cookies and Canvas will take place inside 2 West unless there are too many children, in which case it will relocate to one of the hotel's private conference rooms.

For more information, call the hotel at 658-1000.

Even for the grownups out there who won't be taking part in the event, Faison wants people to stop by and see the progress of the construction project.

"We want to encourage people to come by and see the remodel as it happens," Faison said.